BACK TO THE 80s @ FERRY MEADOWS Nene Park Trust, the people who run Ferry Meadows, celebrate their 21st birthday this year and are holding one massive party to celebrate on August 8 and 9. On the Saturday, Heart FM will be taking us back to the 80’s, when the Trust was founded, with live music, a special guest appearance from DJ Pat Sharp and a Limahl performance from Limahl of Kajagoogoo. There’ll be demonstrations of birds of prey and the chance to have a go at flying model aeroplanes, sailing and GPS-led nature trails as well as ‘beat the keeper’ and golf competitions. The Sunday has a more family feel, with kid’s fair rides and bouncy castle, kite flying and outdoor poetry reading – perfect to enjoy with a picnic! Leave the car at home for the weekend, obviously you can walk or bike to Ferry Meadows, but Nene Valley Railway will also be running extra services all weekend – see www.nvr.org.uk. For more info, visit www.neneparktrust.org.uk or call 01733 234193.
ESP, VIKINGS AND ELECTRIC WARRIORS It’s all go at Itter Park on August 23 for the annual Summer Fun Day, which promises to be even bigger and better this year and the ESP girls will be dropping by too. There’ll be great live music from Acer, Electric Warriors, Highway Somewhere, Look Don’t Touch and Monkey Boys as well as Heart FM in attendance. There’ll be a real party atmosphere in the rather pretty surroundings of the park. All the family are welcome as there’ll be fairground rides and viking warrior displays, a car boot sale and the ever-essential beer tent. Everything kicks off at 11am and entry is free. Look out for the gorgeous ESP girls armed with goody bags. Acer
For more info visit www.friends-of-itter-park.org.uk
FAMILY FUN ON THE FARM If the summer holidays are dragging on and you’re running out of ideas to keep the young ‘uns entertained, or you just fancy doing something different, head to Sacrewell Farm on August 9 for the Family Fun Day, organised by Age Concern and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There’ll be loads going on, such as a Human Table Football tournament which will see teams from across the city competing, live music and performance. Organiser Jane Grant told ESP - “The event is set to be fantastic – there is just so much going on – there’ll be the chance to have a go at archery and meet your favourite Star Wars characters. There are even fairy dust workshops, along with arts and crafts stalls and some lovely food and drink on offer for the grown-ups!” It’s bound to be a great day out and if the weather’s less than pleasant, as usual, there’s a massive marquee to huddle under as well as indoor cafés. For more info, visit www.acpeterborough.org.uk, contact Jane Grant at Age Concern Peterborough 01733 564185 or email j.grant@acpeterborough.org.uk. Entry is just £1 for adults and 50p for children.
GET FIT FOR THE GREAT EASTERN RUN
ROWING LAKE REGATTA Spend a lovely day on the banks of the rowing lake at Thorpe Meadows, watching tanned and toned men and women compete on the water at Peterborough Rowing Club’s Summer Regatta on August 8 and 9. With teams competing from across the country bringing their supporters, licensed bars and a disco on the Saturday night, there’ll be loads going on and if you’ve always fancied rowing, it’s the perfect chance to take a look at the sport and make contact with the ever-welcoming rowing club. For more information, visit www.peterboroughcityrowing.co.uk.
RAFT RACE RETURNS – FANCIER THAN EVER! Here’s proof of the power of Facebook – after a thousand-strong group requested the return of the Deepings Raft Race, after a two year break, it’ll return on August 9 and moves into the High Street and Market Place to raise funds for Sue Ryder Care. As well as the main entertainment of watching the home-made rafts race, or disintegrate, along the river, the organisers are aiming to set a world record for the biggest fancy dress street party. There’s no theme, so just wear whatever you wish you could get away with every day – whether you go as a pirate, cowgirl or in drag, the choice is yours! There’s also a Best Dressed
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www.espmag.co.uk ( August )
If you’ve signed up for the Great Eastern Run, which takes place in Peterborough on October 11 and want a little professional help to get up to speed, then don’t miss the free training sessions on August 5 and 19 at the Esporta Health Club, Thorpe Wood. Runners of all abilities are welcome and male and female coaches from city running clubs will be supervising group runs, as well as warm-ups and warm downs. Everyone taking part in the training sessions will get a free day pass to Esporta which can be used anytime, as well as access to the changing rooms, bar and restaurant. For more information on the training sessions, call Advance Performance on 01733 891111.
Pet competition running, good luck with getting your mutt to sit still long enough to get the fairy wings on. It’s a real family-friendly day with a funfair, balloon race, raffles, stalls and hot food and Lite FM 106.8 will be hosting the live music stage with bands such as The Gangsters, Retrolux, Circa 73, Loose Baby Charlotte and The Nuggets playing from 1pm. The Lite FM DJs will be hosting the main stage in the town centre and Keith Dalton told ESP – “I’m delighted to see this great event back on the calendar. It’ll be a fantastic weekend and I hope everyone gets right behind it to make sure its back again next year.” Look out for the ESP crew down there too taking part in the fun… whether we manage a raft or not though remains to be seen as our last efforts weren’t so great! For more info, visit www.deepingsraftrace.co.uk